A vocal opponent of controversial transport policies in Oxford has responded to historic criticism from BBC presenter Jeremy Vine he has "his own" LTN (low traffic neighbourhood) outside his restaurant as he is embroiled with the council in a new row.

Cowley Road restaurateur Clinton Pugh, who is father of Hollywood actress Florence Pugh, owns Café Coco and Kazbar and had owned Cafe Tarifa before it was repossessed last year.

Mr Pugh has responded to criticism from Mr Vine, in relation to LTNs, who had made comments such as "what about you and your square?" when talking to the restaurateur on his BBC show.

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Speaking of the square, Mr Pugh said: "Everyone keeps bleating on about how I campaigned hard to get it closed.

"I didn't lobby for it to be closed - it was already closed.

Oxford Mail: Cowley Road.Cowley Road. (Image: Newsquest)

"I just tried to make it a better space."

Mr Pugh is among business owners on Cowley Road to speak out against the scheme saying restrictions on motorists have led to a loss in customer footfall.

He has now criticised Oxford City Council for resurfacing outside his restaurant which he believes has "not done been properly" and said Oxfordshire County Council had "completely and utterly destroyed my business".

Dawson Street in Oxford was pedestrianised in 2020 by the city council with the authority describing the move at the time as "helping cafes, restaurants and bars".

The restauranteur added it "wasn't until Covid that eventually someone in the council resurfaced Dawson Street for some strange reason during lockdown and didn't bother asking me about it".

"Everything the council does is always temporary and never done properly.

"They did such a bad job - we put a table and chair outside and a coffee cup slid right off it. We said this is ridiculous, we can't even trade now.

"I paid £12,750 for the council to have it resurfaced after they messed it up before."

Mr Pugh went on to say "the (county) council has completely and utterly destroyed by business" and "there was no enthusiasm from the (city) council to actually help (with the resurfacing) at all".

Oxford Mail: Clinton Pugh rolls up an anti-LTN sign on Dawson Street in Oxford.Clinton Pugh rolls up an anti-LTN sign on Dawson Street in Oxford. (Image: Ed Halford)

The city council said in 2020 it had "worked with business owners, local councillors and Oxford Direct Services (ODS) to facilitate the permanent pedestrianisation of more of Dawson Street".

In a statement, the authority added at the time: "Oxford City Council is set to pedestrianise sections of more streets across the city to help cafes, restaurants and bars by enabling them to provide outside seating areas."

But Mr Pugh added: "It took me 32 years to achieve what I have and three years to be destroyed by the council."

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: "The county council’s travel and transport policies are designed to work together to improve public transport, walking and cycling; making travel easier.

"Measures aim to reduce traffic, make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer while helping reduce local air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.”